The Clippers, who have been victimized by blowing big leads all season, fell into the trap again Thursday night at Staples Center against the Phoenix Suns – with Grant Hill and Steve Nash watching in suits.

The big lead didn't matter much after 48 minutes, though, as the Clippers were somehow on the wrong side of a 91-87 score to the depleted Suns.

Despite leading by as many as 17 points in the first half, the Clippers found themselves down a basket with 30 seconds left.

Sebastian Telfair, playing because Suns coach Alvin Gentry decided to rest Hill and Nash in the midst of a back-to-back-to-back, stripped Chris Paul with under a minute left.

Needing a stop, the Clippers allowed an offensive rebound after Shannon Brown missed a three. The Clippers were forced to foul Brown, who sunk a pair of free throws to ice the game.

The Suns hit 18-of-23 from the line in the game while the Clippers were a woeful 5-for-12. With the Suns closing in on their comeback late in the fourth quarter, the team began intentionally fouling Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

The Suns got back into the game from behind the three-point line, finally taking a lead on Brown's three-point shot from in front of the Clippers bench.